The Red Menace (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = The Red Menace

| caption =

| image = The Red Menace FilmPoster.jpeg

| director = R. G. Springsteen

| producer =

| writer =

| screenplay = Albert DeMond
Gerald Geraghty

| story = Albert DeMond

| narrator = Lloyd G. Davies

| starring = Robert Rockwell
Hannelore Axman

| music = Nathan Scortt

| cinematography = John MacBurnie

| editing = Harry Keller

| studio = Republic Pictures

| distributor = Republic Pictures

| released = {{film date|1949|06|09|Los Angeles}}

| runtime = 87 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

The Red Menace (reissue title Underground Spy) is a 1949 anti-communist film noir drama film directed by R. G. Springsteen starring Robert Rockwell and Hannelore Axman.

Plot

An ex-GI named Bill Jones (Robert Rockwell) becomes involved with the Communist Party USA. While in training, Jones falls in love with one of his instructors. At first true followers of communism, they realize their mistake when they witness party leaders murder a member who questions the party's principles. When they try to leave the party, the two are marked for murder and hunted by the party's assassins.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041791/ The Red Menace (1949)]

Cast

{{castlist|

Robert Rockwell as Bill Jones
Hannelore Axman as Nina Petrovka (credited as Hanne Axman)
Betty Lou Gerson as Yvonne Kraus
Barbra Fuller as Mollie O'Flaherty
Shepard Menken as Henry Solomon
Lester Luther as Earl Partridge
William Lally as Jack Tyler (credited as William J. Lally)
Lloyd G. Davies as Inspector O'Toole
Norman Budd as Reachi
Leo Cleary as Father O'Leary
Kay Riehl as Mrs. O'Flaherty
William Martell as Immigration Insp. Riggs
James Harrington as Martin Vejac
Duke Williams as Sam Wright
Napoleon Simpson as Tom Wright
Robert H. Purcell as Sheriff of Talbot (credited as Roberto Purcell)
Royal Raymond as Benson
Gregg Martell as Schuitz
Jimmy Hawkins as Jimmy (credited as Jimmie Hawkins)

}}

Production

The film was originally planned to be made by Irving Allen and James S. Burkett as an independent film. Republic Pictures chose unknowns for the cast and many made their film debuts. Republic Pictures' president Herbert Yates was named as executive producer but no producer was named.{{AFI film|26069}}

As well as playing Inspector O'Toole, Lloyd G. Davies was also the film's narrator.

Release

The film opened in the Los Angeles district on June 9, 1949.{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|date=June 1, 1949|title=50G Ad Budget For Rep's 'Menace' Opener|page=7|url=https://archive.org/details/variety174-1949-06/page/n6/mode/1up|via=Internet Archive}} In two theaters in Los Angeles it grossed a dull $22,000 in its first week.{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|date=June 15, 1949|title=L.A. In Doldrums But 'Territory' Oke $39,000; 'Menace' Dull 22G; 'Entry' Slow $31,000; 'Allegro,' 'Street' Ditto|page=10|url=https://archive.org/details/variety174-1949-06/page/n137/mode/1up|via=Internet Archive}} The film performed poorly at the box office and was withdrawn from release after several months. The film was re-edited and re-released in 1953 as Underground Spy.